Website: Aberdeen Plant Materials Center http://plant-materials.nrcs.usda.gov

Plants for Riparian Buffers

P.O. Box 296, Aberdeen, ID 83210 Phone:(208) 397-4133 Fax:(208) 397-3104

What is a Riparian Buffer?

Many farmers, ranchers and land managers have a growing concern over water quality issues. Riparian buffers are one of the most important practices that you can use to help control non- point pollution and improve water quality. Riparian buffers are the grasses, grass-like, forbs, shrubs, trees or other vegetation growing along streams. These plants control erosion and help filter and keep water clean. Cropland fields shouldn’t be planted right up to a stream’s edge where the soil is generally more fragile and subject to erosion.

A healthy riparian buffer between cropland and a river system

Shrubs, trees and other vegetation protect the stream from pollutants and runoff. They absorb excess nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus from farm and livestock operations. Plants protect the stream banks from erosion by providing a protective barrier against the water. The trunks, branches, stems and leaves intercept the water currents that can weaken and wash away bank material. In addition to protecting water and soil, riparian buffers provide important habitat for aquatic and upland wildlife and also fish habitat. The information contained in this brochure will help you select the best shrubs and trees for installing riparian buffers on your farm or ranch. The plants listed are all highly recommended for use in the Intermountain West and Rocky Mountain States. Included are tips for planning riparian buffers and areas, Aberdeen Plant Materials Center Service area. The selecting plants and taking dormant un-rooted hardwood PMC provides plant based solutions to resource cuttings. concerns throughout the Intermountain and Rocky Mountain regions. Plants for Riparian Buffers

Benefits and Functions of Riparian Buffers

 Reduced water pollution .Intercepts surface runoff and filters sediment .Research has shown that riparian vegetation can remove up to 90% of unused nitrogen from croplands  Protection from flood .Slows flood water velocities Cropland eroding into a stream. This field could .Absorb water flows and energy have been protected with a properly managed  Erosion control riparian buffer. Photo by Rob Sampson, NRCS. .Protects vulnerable soils . Roots strengthen and stabilize stream banks .Above ground vegetation intercepts wave forces/energy  Provides fish and wildlife food and cover habitat .Trees and shrubs create cover and nesting habitat .Shed leaves and fallen insects provide the primary food source for aquatic ecosystems .They serve as habitat-movement corridors for wildlife Native fish benefit from the food and habitat created by riparian buffers. Photo by Pat Clayton, FishEyeGuy Photography. Used with Planning and Design permission.

Riparian buffers can be established along streams, lakes, Recommended widths for riparian buffers ponds, and wetlands to improve or maintain water quality, and to protect or improve fish and wildlife Minimum* Optimal habitat. Using a diversity of trees, shrubs, grasses, and (feet) (feet) forbs will provide shade, organic matter, and eventually woody debris to the water body. The type of vegetation, Aquatic species 35 150 configuration, and maintenance regime you use will vary Big game 35 150 depending on site conditions, your objectives and economic concerns. Temporary exclusion of livestock Wildlife diversity 35 150 and wildlife may be required until the desired vegetation Non-game birds and 10 150 is established. Grazing management is essential to mammals maintain healthy riparian buffers. Raptors -- 300+ In general, wider riparian buffers provide better wildlife cover and fish habitat. Maintenance needs will vary by Reptiles, amphibians 35 150 design. Timing of thinning, pruning, burning, and Upland game (pheasants) 10 75 grazing is particularly critical during migration periods, calving, nesting or spawning. When possible, allow large Waterfowl 25 75 dead and dying trees to remain for use by cavity nesters * The minimum buffer width required in the NRCS and for eventual recruitment to the stream channel. Riparian Forest Buffer Standard is 35 feet. Plants for Riparian Buffers

Plant Selection

Establishment of riparian plants depends on proper selection of species, plant material procurement and handling, planting location, and establishment techniques. When planning a project, it is important to identify the existing vegetation and its respective locations in relationship to the stream and water table. Attempt to match the potential native species at the project site, and to match as closely as possible the correct species with the proper hydrology.

Different vegetation forms occur in the various Riparian Planting Zones riparian planting zones as a result of different water and flood conditions. Note: not all streams will have all riparian planting zones present. Refer to the drawing to help you determine where to plant riparian species in relation to the water line.

 Plants with flexible stems and creeping root systems are usually located from the top of the Toe Zone through the Bank Zone.

 Most emergent aquatic species (sedges, rushes, etc.) are found in the Toe Zone.

 Small to medium shrubs are found in the Bank and Overbank Zones and beyond.

 Large shrubs and trees are usually found in the Transitional and Upland Zones. They should not be planted in other zones because their large stems won’t give if high velocity stream flows hit them. The large stems also tend to block debris and ice that can cause bank erosion.

 Wetland herbaceous species are found throughout the streambank cross section. Riparian trees and shrubs suitable for use in the Intermountain and Rocky Mountain region

Elevation Rooting from Riparian Species Size/Form range Root type cuttings Planting Zone

Acer negundo Med. tree Low-Middle Moderately Poor Transitional Box elder spreading

Alnus rubra Med. tree Middle-High Shallow spreading Poor Overbank - Red alder Transitional

Alnus sinuata Sm.–med. tree Middle-High Shallow spreading Poor Bank-Overbank Sitka alder

Alnus incana ssp. tenuifolia Sm.–med. tree Middle-High Shallow spreading Poor Bank-Overbank Thinleaf alder

Betula occidentalis Lg. shrub-sm. Middle-High Shallow to deep Poor Bank-Overbank Water birch tree spreading

Cornus sericea Med. shrub Middle Shallow Moderate (wounding Bank to Redosier dogwood enhances success) Transitional

Crataegus douglasii Sm. Tree Low-Middle Shallow to deep Poor Overbank - Black/Douglas hawthorn spreading Transitional

Elaeagnus commutata Med. shrub Low-Middle Shallow Very good Overbank - Silverberry Transitional

Pentaphylloides floribunda Sm. shrub Low-Middle Shallow to deep Poor Overbank - Shrubby cinquefoil spreading Transitional

Philadelphus lewisii Sm.-med. Low-Middle Spreading fibrous Poor Overbank - Mockorange or Syringa shrub Transitional

Populus angustifolia Lg. tree Middle Shallow Very good Transitional Narrowleaf cottonwood

Populus fremontii Lg. tree Low-Middle Shallow fibrous Very good Transitional Fremont cottonwood

Populus tremuloides Med. tree Middle-High Shallow Poor Transitional Quaking aspen

Populus trichocarpa Lg. tree Low-Middle Shallow fibrous Very good Transitional Black cottonwood

Prunus virginiana Sm. tree Low-Middle Rhizomatous Good from root cuttings Transitional Chokecherry

Rhus trilobata Med.–lg. shrub Low-Middle Deep spreading Poor Transitional Skunkbush sumac rhizomatous

Ribes aureum Sm.–med. Low-Middle Spreading Good (in greenhouse) Overbank Golden currant shrub

Ribes cereum Sm.–med. Middle-High Spreading Fair Overbank - Wax currant shrub Transitional

Rosa woodsii Sm.–med. Low-Middle Shallow to deep Good (in greenhouse) Bank - Wood’s rose shrub Transitional

Sambucus coerulea Sm. tree Middle Rhizomatous Poor Transitional Blue elderberry

Sambucus racemosa Med. shrub Middle-High Spreading Poor Transitional Red elderberry

Shepherdia argentea Lg. shrub Low-Middle Rhizomatous Poor Transitional Silver buffaloberry

Symphoricarpos albus Sm. shrub Low-Middle Spreading Very good Overbank - Common snowberry Transitional Riparian trees and shrubs suitable for use in the Intermountain and Rocky Mountain region

Flooding Drought Deposition Salinity Species tolerance tolerance Wildlife value tolerance tolerance

Acer negundo High High Big game browse, High Medium Box elder upland bird food

Alnus rubra Medium Low Big game browse, Medium Low Red alder upland bird food

Alnus sinuata Medium Low Big game browse, Medium Low Sitka alder upland bird food

Alnus incana ssp. tenuifolia Medium Low Big game browse Medium Low Thinleaf alder

Betula occidentalis Medium Low Big game browse, Medium Low Water birch small mammal and upland bird food

Cornus sericea High Medium Browse and cover for Low Low Redosier dogwood many species

Crataegus douglasii Low High Big game browse Medium Low Black/Douglas hawthorn

Elaeagnus commutata High Medium Big game browse High Medium Silverberry

Pentaphylloides floribunda Unknown High Big game browse Unknown Unknown Shrubby cinquefoil

Philadelphus lewisii Unknown Unknown Big game browse Unknown Unknown Mockorange or Syringa

Populus angustifolia Medium High Big game browse Medium Medium Narrowleaf cottonwood

Populus fremontii Medium Medium Big game browse Medium Medium Fremont cottonwood

Populus tremuloides Low Medium Big game browse Low Medium Quaking aspen

Populus trichocarpa Medium Medium Big game browse Medium Unknown Black cottonwood

Prunus virginiana Low Low-Medium Birds and small Low Low-Medium Chokecherry mammals eat fruit

Rhus trilobata Medium Medium-High Birds and small High Medium Skunkbush sumac mammals eat fruit

Ribes aureum Unknown Unknown Birds and small Unknown Medium Golden currant mammals eat fruit

Ribes cereum Unknown Unknown Birds and small Unknown Unknown Wax currant mammals eat fruit

Rosa woodsii Low Low-High Rosehips eaten by Unknown Low Wood’s rose many species

Sambucus coerulea Medium Medium Fruit eaten by birds Medium Low Blue elderberry

Sambucus racemosa Medium Medium Birds and small Medium Low Red elderberry mammals eat fruit

Shepherdia argentea Unknown Unknown Birds and small Unknown High Silver buffaloberry mammals eat fruit

Symphoricarpos albus Medium Medium Birds and small Medium Low Common snowberry mammals eat fruit Riparian willows suitable for use in the Intermountain and Rocky Mountain region

Elevation Rooting from Riparian Species Size/Form range Root type cuttings Planting Zone

Salix alba Med.-lg. tree Low-Middle Shallow to deep Good Transitional White/Golden willow

Salix amygdaloides Sm. tree Low Fibrous Very good Transitional Peachleaf willow

Salix bebbiana Lg. shrub Low-Middle Shallow to deep Good Transitional Bebb’s willow

Salix boothii Med. shrub Middle Shallow to deep Moderate Bank-Overbank Booth willow

Salix drummondiana Sm.-med. Middle-High Shallow to deep Good Bank-Overbank Drummond willow Shrub

Salix exigua Med. shrub Low-Middle Rhizomatous Very good Bank- Coyote willow Transitional

Salix geyeriana Med. shrub Middle Shallow to deep Good Bank-Overbank Geyer willow

Salix lasiandra Sm. tree Low-Middle Shallow to deep Good Transitional Pacific willow

Salix lemmonii Sm.-med. Middle-High Shallow to deep Good Bank-Overbank Lemmon willow shrub

Salix lutea Med.-lg. shrub Low Shallow to deep Good Bank-Overbank Yellow willow

Salix nigra Lg. tree Low-Middle Shallow to deep Good Transitional Black willow

Salix planifolia Sm. shrub Middle-High Shallow to deep Moderate Bank-Overbank Planeleaf willow

Salix prolixa Sm. tree Low-Middle Shallow to deep Good Overbank Mackenzie willow

Salix scouleriana Lg. shrub Low-Middle Shallow to deep Treat with hormone Upland Scouler willow

Salix sitchensis Sm.-med. Low-Middle Shallow to deep Moderate Overbank Sitka willow shrub

An Idaho riparian buffer with several forms and sizes of vegetation including tall trees, shrubs and herbaceous wetland sedges. Riparian trees and shrubs suitable for use in the Intermountain and Rocky Mountain region

Flooding Drought Deposition Salinity Species tolerance tolerance Wildlife value* tolerance tolerance

Salix alba High Medium High Low-Medium White/Golden willow

Salix amygdaloides High Low High Medium Peachleaf willow

Salix bebbiana High Low-Medium High Low Bebb’s willow

Salix boothii Medium-High Low-Medium High Low Booth willow

Salix drummondiana Medium-High Low-Medium High Low Drummond willow

Salix exigua Medium-High Low-Medium High Low Coyote willow

Salix geyeriana Medium-High Low-Medium High Low Geyer willow

Salix lasiandra Medium-High Low-Medium High Low Pacific willow

Salix lemmonii Medium-High Low-Medium High Low Lemmon willow

Salix lutea Medium-High Low-Medium Medium Medium Yellow willow

Salix nigra Medium-High Low-Medium Medium Low-Medium Black willow

Salix planifolia Medium-High Low-Medium High Low Planeleaf willow

Salix prolixa Medium-High Low-Medium High Low Mackenzie willow

Salix scouleriana Medium-High Low-Medium High High Scouler willow

Salix sitchensis Medium-High Low-Medium High Low Sitka willow

*All willows listed are good browse and provide excellent cover for many species. Elevation range: Flooding Tolerance: Low 2,000 – 4,500 ft Low Tolerates 1 to 5 days or less Middle 4,500 – 7,000 ft Medium Tolerates 6 to 10 days High 7,000 – 10,000 ft High Tolerates 10 to 30+ days Deposition Tolerance: Regrowth following shallow coverage by soil. Drought Tolerance: Resistance to drought relative to native sites. Salinity Tolerance: Resistance to salinity relative to native vegetation on similar sites. Plants for Riparian Buffers

Dormant Unrooted Cuttings

 Make cuttings after leaves fall and before buds burst in the spring.  The best rooting success is from cuttings made of 2 to 10 year old. limbs  Cutting diameter should be as large as possible, depending on the species. Best diameters are ¾ to 3 inches.  Cuttings should be long enough to reach 8 to 12 inches into the lowest water table level of the year.  Remove the terminal (top) current years growth of the cutting to provide more energy to the establishing roots.  Remove all side branches to ensure stored energy is used in root development.  Soaking cuttings for 7 to 14 days allows root development to begin prior to planting. Planting should take place before roots have emerged from the bark.  Hormones are generally unnecessary for large volume plantings of willows.  Hormones may be valuable for other species and for older willow cuttings with thick rough bark. Dormant willow cuttings soaking in a water filled garbage can . Soaking cuttings for 7 to 14 Leave at least one node above the surface at planting. Make sure days helps prime the cutting with water and the cutting is tall enough to be over competing vegetation. initiate root growth for better establishment.

Technical and cost share help is available

The Natural Resources Conservation Service can help you plan, establish, and manage riparian buffers. Contact your local USDA Service Center. USDA offers several programs that can help you install riparian buffers and other types of conservation plantings. These programs include the continuous Conservation Reserve Program (CRP), the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), the Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program (WHIP), and the Wetland Reserve Program (WRP).

For more information on the Aberdeen PMC, contact the PMC in Aberdeen, Idaho at (208) 397-4133, or the Plant Materials Specialist in Boise at (208) 685-6987.

November 2011

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